Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of operating a wireless terminal, the method comprising: i) measuring received power of a tone corresponding to a NULL base station output; ii) determining, based on the measured power of the tone corresponding to a NULL base station output, a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level; and iii) operating a transmitter to transmit said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level.
A wireless terminal determines the maximum downlink signal quality it could achieve even with infinite base station power (downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level). This is done by measuring the received power of a "null tone" which represents base station silence, and then calculates the saturation level based on this measurement. The terminal then transmits this calculated saturation level to the base station.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting includes transmitting said signal to noise ratio saturation level to a base station.
The wireless terminal, as described in the previous claim, transmits the calculated downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level to a base station. The terminal measures the power of a "null tone" from the base station which represents silence, calculates the saturation level, and then sends that information back to the base station.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said transmitting includes transmitting said signal to noise ratio saturation level as a quantized value having a fixed predetermined number of bits that is transmitted using OFDM signals.
The wireless terminal transmits the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level to a base station using a quantized value. This value is represented by a fixed number of bits and transmitted using Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signals. The terminal measures a "null tone," calculates the saturation, converts that to a digital representation with a specific bit length and then transmits using OFDM.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said transmitting step is performed in a predetermined uplink transmission unit dedicated for the transmission of downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level information in a predetermined uplink timing structure.
The wireless terminal transmits the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level to a base station using a dedicated uplink transmission slot. This slot is specifically reserved for sending downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level information within a predefined timing structure. The terminal sends information about a theoretical maximum signal quality only in predetermined time slots allocated for this purpose.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising: repeating steps i), ii) and iii).
The wireless terminal repeatedly measures the received power of a "null tone", determines the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level based on the measured power, and transmits this determined saturation level. This process of measurement, calculation, and transmission is continuously repeated to provide ongoing feedback to the base station.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said transmitting step is performed in accordance with the occurrence of transmission units dedicated for the transmission of downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level information on an uplink channel dedicated to said wireless terminal.
The wireless terminal performs the transmitting step in accordance with the occurrence of transmission units dedicated for the transmission of downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level information on an uplink channel dedicated to said wireless terminal. In other words, the terminal only sends saturation level data when a predefined time slot, specifically allocated to that terminal, becomes available in the uplink communication.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting a report in the form of one of a plurality of predetermined report values.
Instead of sending the raw calculated downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level, the wireless terminal transmits a report. This report consists of one of several pre-defined values, each representing a range or level of the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level. The transmitter uses a lookup table, where the calculated saturation value is associated with one of those predefined values, and transmits this one.
8. A method of operating a wireless terminal, the method comprising: i) determining a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level; ii) operating a transmitter to transmit said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level; and wherein said downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level is a downlink signal to noise ratio that said wireless terminal would measure on a received signal that was transmitted by a base station at infinite power.
A wireless terminal calculates a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level, which represents the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) it *would* experience if the base station transmitted at infinite power. It then transmits this calculated saturation level. This metric provides an upper bound on downlink signal quality.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level is a function of wireless terminal self-noise.
The previously described downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level calculation considers the wireless terminal's *own* internal noise. The calculated maximum possible signal quality is dependent on the noise inherent to the receiving hardware in the terminal itself.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said step of determining said signal to noise ratio saturation level is based on measured channel estimation errors.
The downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level calculation is based on measuring errors in channel estimation. The terminal attempts to estimate the characteristics of the communication channel, notes the inaccuracies, and uses these error measurements to determine the saturation level.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said step of determining said signal to noise ratio saturation level is also based on at least one receiver characteristic of a receiver module included in said wireless terminal.
The downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level calculation also incorporates at least one characteristic of the receiver module within the wireless terminal. This means that the specific receiver hardware is also considered for this calculation.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said at least one receiver characteristic is one of: receiver filter type, amplifier type, and analog digital converter sampling rate.
The receiver characteristic used in the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level calculation can be the receiver filter type, amplifier type, or the analog-to-digital converter's sampling rate. The choice of those hardware components and configuration settings affects the calculated maximum signal quality.
13. A method of operating a wireless terminal, the method comprising: i) determining a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level; ii) operating a transmitter to transmit said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level; wherein said transmitter is also operated to transmit a report in the form of one of a plurality of predetermined report values; and wherein the predetermined report values are 4 bit values, each value corresponding to a different quantization level.
The wireless terminal transmits a report indicating the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level, choosing from a set of predetermined values. These report values are represented by 4 bits each, with each value corresponding to a different discrete quantization level of the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level.
14. A method of operating a wireless terminal, the method comprising: i) determining a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level; ii) transmitting said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level; and prior to performing said transmitting step, making a determination as to whether said downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level is to be transmitted in an uplink transmission unit dedicated to said wireless terminal in which said wireless terminal can select to transmit said downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level or other information.
The wireless terminal first determines the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level and then decides if it should transmit the value now or if other data has higher priority. If a dedicated uplink transmission slot is available, the terminal has the flexibility to send either the saturation level information or other information as appropriate, depending on its needs or a priority scheme.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level includes: measuring the received power of a tone corresponding to a NULL base station output to thereby determine an interference power N; measuring the received power of a pilot signal GP 0 ; determining the signal to noise ratio of said received pilot signal SNR 0 ; and calculating the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level by the formula: downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level=(1/SNR 0 −N/(GP 0 )) −1 .
The wireless terminal calculates the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level using the formula: `downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level=(1/SNR0 −N/(GP0)) −1`. 'N' is interference power measured using a "null tone", 'GP0' is the measured power of a pilot signal, and 'SNR0' is the signal to noise ratio of the received pilot signal.
16. A wireless terminal, the wireless terminal comprising: a module for measuring received power of a tone corresponding to a NULL base station output; a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level determination module for determining a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level based on the measured power of the tone corresponding to a NULL base station output; and a transmitter for transmitting said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level.
A wireless terminal includes a module that measures the received power of a "null tone", which is an intentional silence from the base station. It also has a module that calculates the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level based on the measured power of this "null tone". Finally, it has a transmitter to send this determined saturation level.
17. The wireless terminal of claim 16 , wherein said transmitter includes an OFDM transmitter.
The wireless terminal described above uses an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) transmitter for sending the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level. OFDM is used to transmit the calculated maximum signal quality data.
18. The wireless terminal of claim 16 , wherein said transmitter is coupled to an antenna used to transmit said signal to noise ratio saturation level to a base station.
The wireless terminal's transmitter is connected to an antenna, which it uses to send the calculated downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level to a base station. The antenna is specifically used to transmit this data to the base station.
19. The wireless terminal of claim of claim 18 , further comprising: memory including uplink timing structure information; and a transmission control module for controlling, as a function of said uplink timing structure information when said transmitter transmits said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level.
The wireless terminal includes memory storing information about the uplink timing structure. A transmission control module uses this timing information to control when the transmitter sends the calculated downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level. The terminal uses a predefined schedule to determine when to send the saturation data.
20. The wireless terminal of claim 19 , wherein said transmission control module controls the transmission of downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level information in accordance with the occurrence of transmission units dedicated for the transmission of downlink to noise ratio saturation level information on a uplink channel dedicated to said wireless terminal as indicated by said uplink timing structure information.
The transmission control module ensures the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level information is sent only during time slots specifically designated for transmitting such information on the uplink channel allocated to this wireless terminal, according to the uplink timing structure information. The terminal adheres to the predetermined communication schedule.
21. The wireless terminal of claim 16 , wherein said downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level is transmitted in the form of one of a plurality of predetermined report values.
The downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level is transmitted by the wireless terminal not as a raw number, but as one of a limited set of pre-defined "report values". The terminal chooses the value that best represents the actual calculated saturation level, sending this instead of the exact calculated value.
22. A wireless terminal, the wireless terminal comprising: a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level determination module; a transmitter for transmitting said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level; and wherein said downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level is a downlink signal to noise ratio that said wireless terminal would measure on a received signal that was transmitted by a base station at infinite power.
A wireless terminal includes a module to calculate the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level, representing the theoretical maximum signal quality if the base station transmitted at infinite power, and a transmitter to send that calculated value. It directly sends information related to the best theoretical signal quality to the base station.
23. The wireless terminal of claim 22 , wherein said signal to noise ratio saturation level is a function of wireless terminal self-noise.
The downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level calculated by the wireless terminal depends on the terminal's own internal noise characteristics. Self-noise of the device itself is considered during the determination of the maximum theoretical signal quality.
24. The wireless terminal of claim 22 , wherein said determination module includes a channel estimation measurement module for measuring channel estimation errors used in determining said signal to noise ratio saturation level.
The downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level determination module includes a channel estimation measurement module for measuring channel estimation errors used in determining said signal to noise ratio saturation level. The terminal uses errors related to channel quality estimation to determine downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level.
25. The wireless terminal of claim 24 , further comprising: memory including stored receiver characteristic information used by said determination module to determine said signal to noise ratio saturation level.
The wireless terminal has memory storing receiver characteristic information, and the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level determination module uses this information in its calculations. Internally saved characteristics of the receiver are taken into consideration when determining the maximum downlink signal quality.
26. The wireless terminal of claim 25 , wherein said stored receiver characteristic information includes at least one of: receiver filter type, amplifier type, and analog digital converter sampling rate information.
The stored receiver characteristic information used for calculating the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level includes at least one of: receiver filter type, amplifier type, and analog digital converter sampling rate information. These parameters of the terminal receiver are taken into consideration when the wireless terminal makes its determination.
27. A wireless terminal, the wireless terminal comprising: a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level determination module; a transmitter for transmitting said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level; wherein said downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level is transmitted in the form of one of a plurality of predetermined report values; and wherein the predetermined report values are 4 bit values, each value corresponding to a different downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level quantization level.
A wireless terminal has a module to determine the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level and a transmitter to send that value. The saturation level is sent as one of several pre-defined 4-bit report values, where each value represents a different quantization level. A discrete value, in the form of 4 bits, indicates the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level.
28. A wireless terminal, the wireless terminal comprising: means for measuring received power of a tone corresponding to a NULL base station output; determination means for determining downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level based on the measured power of the tone corresponding to a NULL base station output; and transmission means for transmitting said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level.
A wireless terminal includes a mechanism for measuring the received power of a "null tone", a mechanism to calculate the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level based on this measured power, and a mechanism for transmitting this determined saturation level. The terminal hardware includes the necessary components to measure, calculate and transmit this saturation level.
29. The wireless terminal of claim 28 , wherein said transmission means includes an OFDM transmitter.
The mechanism for transmitting the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level in the wireless terminal includes an OFDM transmitter. This allows the terminal to use OFDM to transmit downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level information.
30. The wireless terminal of claim 28 , wherein said transmission means is coupled to antenna means for transmitting said signal to noise ratio saturation level to a base station.
The transmission mechanism in the wireless terminal is connected to an antenna, which is used to send the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level to a base station. This is the path to transfer downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level information using an antenna.
31. A non-transitory computer readable medium including machine executable instructions for use in a wireless terminal, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising: instructions for causing the wireless terminal to measure received power of a tone corresponding to a NULL base station output; instructions for causing the wireless terminal to determine a downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level based on the measured received power of the tone corresponding to a NULL base station output; and instructions for causing the wireless terminal to transmit said determined signal to noise ratio saturation level.
A computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by a wireless terminal, cause it to: measure the received power of a "null tone", calculate the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level based on this measured power, and transmit this determined saturation level. Software instructions cause the terminal to measure, calculate and then transmit the downlink signal to noise ratio saturation level.
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August 19, 2014
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